James wilson clark



(No Model.)

` AJ. W. 0LARK.

BOOK. HOLDER.

No. 543,081. Patented Julyzs, 1895.

NiTED STATES PATENT Fries.

JAMES WILSON-CLARK, OF .IANESVILLE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO HENRY .PALMER OF SAME PLACE. p

BOOK-HOLDER.

sPncrFIcArroiv forming part ef Letters Patent No. 543,081, dated July 2s, 1 ses.

Application filed September 1'7, 1894. Sei-iai No. 523,251. (No model.)

To a/ZZ whomA may concern:

Be it known that l, J AMES WILSON CLARK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Janesville, in the county of Rock, State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Book-Holders; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention is an improved book-holder,

the object being to provide a holder of simple construction which will keep both faces of an opened book upon the same level and thus take all strain from the binding at the back. It is well known that large and heavy books when opened throw the two faces of the book into diit'erent planes, and thus strain the binding at the back. Myinvention avoids all these objections and equalizes the two sides of the book, so as to bring them both in the same plane, and it does not matter whether the book is opened at the center or near one .end the operation will be exactly the same.

Vith these objects in view my invention consists of a novel adjusting mechanism for arranging the holder atl any desired"angle.

My invention also consistsin certain details ot' construction and combination of parts, all of which will be fully described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, forming a part of this speciiication, Figure l is a perspective view of my device attached to the top of an ordinary revolving bookcase and showing a book snpported in an open position. Fig. 2 is a perspective view from the rear, showing only the equalizing mechanism. Fig. 3 is'a vertical longitudinal section of a complete device- Referring to the drawings, A indicates a portion of an ordinary revolving bookcase, the axis @thereof projecting through the top of said case, as clearly shown. Upon the end of said axis is secured a plate B, having aV threaded collar b, by means of which it is connected to the end of the axis. This plate is essentially triangular in shape, and at two corners of the same are formed the vertical lugs or ears b', and near the opposite end are formed two parallel lugs b2 and a lug b3. Between the side ears or lugs b is pivoted a rectangular-shaped casting C, said casting being pivoted upon pins c, which pass through the ears and .the sides of the casting, and extending upward from the opposite sides of the casting are the upright arms or standards D D, and projecting rearwardly from the face of the casting is a pawl or lug E, which is adapted to engage a ratchet-bar presently described, and by means of which the holder can be adj usted to any angle desired.

Pivoted lcentrally upon the upright arms or standards D D are the parallel equalizing-bars i F F, four in number, one pivoted near the bottom and one at the top of each arm D, each pair of bars being connected intermediate their ends by integral horizontal crossbars d d. Between the ends of these equalizing-arms are pivoted the brackets G Gf, said brackets each comprising the bearing portions g to receive the pivotal bolts or pins g', the central connecting-web g2, and the horizontal bracketarms g3, constructed in the.

form of a T and to which the supportingleaves H H are secured. These leaves are constructed the same as in ordinary booksupports and the book rests thereon the same as usual.

A ratchet arm or lever K is pivoted between the parallel lugs b2 b2 and is constructed with a hand-grip K and a ratchet-faced arm K2, which is intended to engage the pawl or lug E on the central support or casting, so that by raising the ratchet the book-support can y YI claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patl. In a book support, the combination with a plate having lugs b', of a central casting or support pivoted between said lugs and carrying the book supporting mechanism, said casting having a pawl projecting therefrom,

IOO

the lugs o2, also formed upon the plate and a ratchet faced catch pivoted between said lugs b2, and a spring held between the plate and catch to maintain the catch normally in engagement with the pawl, substantially as shown and described.

2. In a book holder, the combination with,

the plate adapted to be mounted upon a Suitable support, the rectangular casting pivoted upon said plate and adapted to rock thereon and having upright arms projecting upward from each end, the upper and lower equalizng bars pivoted upon each upright arm, the opposing upper and lower bars being con- Wi tnesscs:

A. A. JACKSON, W. A. JACKSON. 

